Inflatable device with layered ornamentation

ABSTRACT

According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide an ornamented inflatable device comprising a first layer of material and a second layer of material having an inflatable chamber therebetween, at least a portion of the first layer being transparent, a first decorative ornamentation applied to the transparent portion of the first layer, and a second decorative ornamentation applied to the second layer on the side of the second layer that faces the transparent portion of the first layer, wherein said first decorative ornamentation and said second decorative ornamentation share a common theme, and when viewed simultaneously by one looking through the transparent portion of the first layer into the inflated chamber, cooperate to form a three-dimensional depiction relating to that common theme.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/286,908, entitled “INFLATABLE DEVICE WITH LAYERED ORNAMENTATION,” filed Dec. 16, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Invention

At least one example in accordance with the present invention relates generally to inflatable devices.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Inflatable devices or toys, such as recreational aquatic floats, snow tubes and other inflatable products, are oftentimes used by children. A typical inflatable device may include decorative ornamentation applied to the outer surface of the inflatable device, wherein the decorative ornamentation is intended to make the inflatable device more visually appealing to a child. Moreover, inflatable devices like chair cushions also may bear fanciful ornamentation on outer surfaces.

SUMMARY

Aspects in accord with the present invention are directed to an inflatable device with layered ornamentation.

In one aspect the present invention features an ornamented inflatable device comprising a first layer of material and a second layer of material having an inflatable chamber therebetween, at least a portion of the first layer being transparent, a first decorative ornamentation applied to the transparent portion of the first layer, and a second decorative ornamentation applied to the second layer on a side of the second layer that faces the transparent portion of the first layer, wherein said first decorative ornamentation and said second decorative ornamentation share a common theme, and when viewed simultaneously by one looking through the transparent portion of the first layer into the inflated chamber, cooperate to form a three-dimensional depiction relating to that common theme.

According to one embodiment the first decorative ornamentation is applied to the transparent portion of the first layer on a side of the first layer that faces the second decorative ornamentation. In one embodiment, the ornamented inflatable device further comprises loose ornamental material located within the inflatable chamber and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation. According to one embodiment, the first layer of material and the second layer of material are welded together to form the inflatable chamber therebetween

According to another embodiment, the ornamented inflatable device comprises at least one columnar member extending between the first and second layers of material. In one embodiment, the at least one columnar member bears a third decorative ornamentation that shares the common theme with the first and second decorative ornamentation. In another embodiment, the ornamented inflatable device further comprises loose ornamental material located within the at least one columnar member and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation.

In another aspect the present invention features a method of creating an ornamented inflatable device, the method comprising acts of welding a first panel of PVC to a second panel of PVC to form an inflatable chamber therebetween, wherein at least a portion of the first panel is transparent, printing a first ornamentation on the first panel; printing a second ornamentation on a side of the second panel that faces the first panel, and configuring the first panel relative to the second panel so that, when viewed simultaneously by one looking through the transparent first layer into the inflated chamber, the first panel and the second panel cooperate to form a three-dimensional effect.

According to one embodiment, the act of welding includes welding the first panel to the second panel around an outer edge of the first panel and an outer edge of the second panel. In one embodiment, the act of welding includes welding the first panel to the second panel around a center weld portion.

According to another embodiment, the act of printing a first ornamentation includes printing the first ornamentation on a side of the first panel that faces the second ornamentation. In one embodiment, the method further comprises placing loose ornamental material within the inflatable chamber.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises welding at least one columnar member to the first panel and the second panel, the at least one columnar member extending through the inflatable chamber. In one embodiment, the method further comprises placing loose ornamental material within the at least one columnar member.

In one aspect the present invention features an inflatable device comprising a first layer of material and a second layer of material having an inflatable chamber therebetween, at least a portion of the first layer being transparent, a first decorative ornamentation applied to the transparent portion of the first layer, and a second decorative ornamentation applied to the second layer on a side of the second layer that faces the transparent portion of the first layer, wherein said first decorative ornamentation comprises a depiction of at least one foreground image and the second decorative ornamentation comprises a depiction of a background image that is contextually related to said foreground image and spaced apart therefrom across the inflated chamber.

According to one embodiment, the first decorative ornamentation is applied to the transparent portion of the first layer on a side of the first layer that faces the second decorative ornamentation. In one embodiment, the inflatable device further comprises loose ornamental material located within the inflatable chamber and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation.

According to another embodiment, the inflatable device comprises at least one columnar member extending between the first and second layers of material. In one embodiment, the at least one columnar member bears a third decorative ornamentation that shares the common theme with the first and second decorative ornamentation. In another embodiment, the inflatable device further comprises loose ornamental material located within the at least one columnar member and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various FIGs. is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A illustrates an exploded view diagram of an inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates an assembled view diagram of an inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 1C illustrates a cross sectional view diagram of an inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a conical or tubular column in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an assembled inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram of another inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of another inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of illustration only, and not to limit the generality, the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. This disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

As described above, a typical inflatable device may include decorative ornamentation applied to the outer surface of the inflatable device. Such decorative ornamentation may be limited by the size and material of the inflatable device. For example, the decorative ornamentation may be limited to the surface area of the outer surface of the inflatable device and/or may also be limited to a two dimensional configuration.

As described herein, the current invention provides an inflatable device with layered ornamentation, capable of providing a three-dimensional decorative ornamentation in the inflatable device. According to one embodiment, at least one portion of an outer surface of the inflatable device is transparent, so that a decorative ornamentation may be applied to said transparent portion and to an opposing portion of the inflatable device seen through the transparent portion so as to create a three-dimensional effect between the two spaced-apart ornamentations. In one embodiment, the two ornamentations may share a theme or concept such that the ornamentations cooperate visually to depict the theme or concept in a three-dimensional manner. In addition, according to one embodiment, other ornamentation may be provided between the layers to produce additional three-dimensional effects, as described in greater detail below.

FIG. 1A illustrates an exploded view diagram of an inflatable device 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The inflatable device 100 is an inflatable float or snow tube generally having the shape of an inner tube. The assembled inflatable device 100 includes a top panel 102 and a bottom panel 104. All or part of the top panel 102 may be made of transparent material, so that one set of ornamentation 106 may be printed on the transparent portion 102, while other ornamentation 108 may be printed on the opposed portion (e.g., bottom panel 104) of the tube that may be seen through the transparent portion 102, to give a three-dimensional effect to the ornamentation. According to one embodiment, the top panel 102 may also include handles 110 coupled to the top panel 102 which are configured to allow a user to grip the device 100. According to another embodiment, the top panel 102 may also include an air valve 112 coupled to the top panel 102 which is configured to allow a user to inflate the device 100.

FIG. 1B illustrates an assembled view diagram of an inflatable device 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Upon being assembled, the top panel 102 and bottom panel 104 are welded together to form the inflatable device 100 having an inflatable interior chamber 105 between the top panel 102 and the bottom panel 104. According to one embodiment, the top panel 102 and the bottom panel 104 are welded together around an outer edge 118 of the top panel 102 and bottom panel 104. According to another embodiment, the top panel 102 and the bottom panel 104 are welded together around a center weld portion 116. According to one embodiment, the center weld portion 116 is circular. According to one embodiment, the assembled inflatable device 100 has a diameter 101 of forty-eight inches; however, it is to be appreciated that the inflatable device 100 may be of any appropriate size and shape. Upon being welded together, the spacing between ornamentation 106 and ornamentation 108 creates a three-dimensional effect so that ornamentation 106 appears to be flying in the sky over ornamentation 108.

FIG. 1C illustrates a cross sectional view of the inflatable device 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Upon being assembled, the top panel 102 and bottom panel 104 are welded together to form the inflatable device 100 having an inflatable interior chamber 105 between the top panel 102 and the bottom panel 104. According to one embodiment, the top panel 102 and the bottom panel 104 are welded together around an outer edge 118 of the top panel 102 and bottom panel 104. According to another embodiment, the top panel 102 and the bottom panel 104 are welded together around a center weld portion 116. According to one embodiment, the center weld portion 116 is circular.

In addition, referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 2 and according to one embodiment, the inflatable device 100 may also include conical or tubular columns 114 which extend between the top panel 102 and the bottom panel 104 of the inflatable device 100. According to one embodiment, the tubular columns 114 are welded to the top panel 102 and the bottom panel 104. According to one embodiment, a top portion 202 of a column 114 is coupled to the top panel 102 of the inflatable device 100 and a bottom portion 204 of a column 114 is coupled to the bottom panel 104 of the inflatable device 100. According to one embodiment, the top portion 202 has a greater circumference than the bottom portion 204; however, it is to be appreciated that the columns 114 may be configured differently. According to one embodiment, the conical or tubular columns 114 may also include at least one hole (not shown) configured to allow fluid communication between the inflatable interior chamber 105 and an interior portion 115 of the tubular columns 114. For example, according to one embodiment, when air is blown into the inflatable device 100, via the air valve 112, the air separates the top panel 102 from the bottom panel 104. As the top panel 102 and the bottom panel 104 move farther apart, the columns 114 attached to the top panel 102 and the bottom panel 104 are stretched out. As the columns 114 are stretched out, air from the inflatable interior chamber 105 is able to enter the interior portion 115 of the columns 114 via the at least one hole. According to one embodiment, the at least one hole is located near where a column 114 and a panel 102, 104 are welded together.

According to another embodiment, the columns 114 may bear further ornamentation (not shown) that gives additional three-dimensional effects to the inflatable device 100. According to one embodiment, loose objects (e.g., glitter or other artificial objects) (not shown) may be provided within the columns 114 or the inflatable interior chamber of the inflatable device 100 for further ornamental effect. According to another embodiment, the top panel 102, bottom panel 104 and columns 114 are made of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC); however, it is to be appreciated that the top panel 102, bottom panel 104 and columns 114 may be made of any other appropriate materials.

Referring to FIG. 3, an assembled inflatable snow tube 300 according to one embodiment is provided. The inflatable snow tube 300 has a circular shape and has a bottom panel 304 welded to a top panel 306 to form an interior inflatable chamber 303, as described above. The snow tube 300 has a winter scene (e.g., including snowflakes 302) printed on the inner side of the bottom panel 304. The top panel 306 is transparent, and a team of reindeer 308 is printed on the top panel 306. According to one embodiment, the team of reindeer 308 is printed on the underside of the top panel 306; however, it is to be appreciated that the team of reindeer 308 may also be printed on the top side of the top panel 306. Upon being welded together, the spacing between the team of reindeer 308 and the winter scene 302 creates a three-dimensional effect so that the team of reindeer 308 appears to be flying in the sky over the winter scene 302. In addition, conical or tubular columns 310 extend from the inner side of the bottom panel 304 to the underside of the top panel 306. According to one embodiment, the columns 310 are transparent. According to another embodiment, the columns 312 are decorated with icicles or snow 312, as desired, to add to the three-dimensional ornamental effects of the snow tube 300.

FIG. 4 illustrates another inflatable device 400 having layered ornamentation according to at least one embodiment of the instant invention. The device 400 may be intended for use by an adult and child. The device 400 includes a rear portion 402, configured to support the weight of a child located in a seat area 403 of the rear portion 402. The device 400 also includes at least two curved arms 404, configured to encapture the torso of an adult located adjacent the device 400. According to one embodiment, the device 400 includes a bottom layer 406 and a top layer 408, wherein the bottom layer 406 is welded to the top layer 408 to form an inflatable interior chamber 410. According to one embodiment, the bottom layer 406 and top layer 408 are welded together around an outer edge 412. According to another embodiment, the bottom layer 406 and top layer 408 are welded together around the rear portion 402.

According to one embodiment, the top layer 408 is transparent. According to another embodiment, ornamentation 414 is printed on the transparent top layer 408. According to one embodiment, the ornamentation 414 is printed on the underside of the transparent top layer 408; however, it is to be appreciated that the ornamentation 414 may also be printed on the top side of the transparent top layer 408. In one embodiment, the ornamentation 414 is in the form of a fish 406. According to another embodiment, additional ornamentation 416 (e.g., a sea scene) is printed on the inner side of the bottom layer 406, so that when a user looks through the transparent top layer 408, the two sets of ornamentation cooperate to provide a three-dimensional effect representing fish 406 swimming in the sea.

FIG. 5 illustrates another inflatable device 500 having layered ornamentation according to at least one embodiment of the instant invention. The device 500 is an inflatable chair cushion which has a transparent portion 502 on its top side, bearing ornamentation 504 in the form of birds or fireflies, while a portion 506 (e.g., a bottom side) of the inflatable chair cushion opposite the transparent portion 502 could depict a pond or a cottage 508, so that the two ornamentations 504, 508, when seen together, cooperate to represent a three-dimensional summer scene. According to one embodiment, the inflatable device 500 includes side portions 510. The side portions 510 are welded to an outer edge 512 of the transparent portion 502 and an outer edge 514 of the bottom portion 506. According to another embodiment, the transparent portion 502 and the bottom portion 506 are welded together directly.

It is to be appreciated that the printing of ornamentations on the inflatable devices, according to embodiments of the instant invention, may be performed in any known way. As discussed above, ornamentations printed on the top panel 102 or layer 408 may be printed on the underside of the top panel 102 or layer 408, which may prevent children or anyone else from coming directly into contact with the printed ornamentations.

It also is to be appreciated that the inflatable devices with layered ornamentation, as discussed above, are not meant to be limited to the specific embodiments described herein. For example, layered ornamentation could be applied to inflatable pools, floating mattresses, inflatable bath pillows, inflatable lounge cushions, and a variety of other products. In addition, the layered ornamentation printed on an inflatable device of the instant invention may be designed to represent any type of figure, design, image, theme, etc. 

1. An ornamented inflatable device comprising: a first layer of material and a second layer of material having an inflatable chamber therebetween, at least a portion of the first layer being transparent; a first decorative ornamentation applied to the transparent portion of the first layer; and a second decorative ornamentation applied to the second layer on a side of the second layer that faces the transparent portion of the first layer; wherein said first decorative ornamentation and said second decorative ornamentation share a common theme, and when viewed simultaneously by one looking through the transparent portion of the first layer into the inflated chamber, cooperate to form a three-dimensional depiction relating to that common theme.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first decorative ornamentation is applied to the transparent portion of the first layer on a side of the first layer that faces the second decorative ornamentation.
 3. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one columnar member extending between the first and second layers of material.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one columnar member bears a third decorative ornamentation that shares the common theme with the first and second decorative ornamentation.
 5. The device of claim 1, further comprising loose ornamental material located within the inflatable chamber and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation.
 6. The device of claim 3, further comprising loose ornamental material located within the at least one columnar member and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first layer of material and the second layer of material are welded together to form the inflatable chamber therebetween.
 8. A method of creating an ornamented inflatable device, the method comprising acts of: welding a first panel of PVC to a second panel of PVC to form an inflatable chamber therebetween, wherein at least a portion of the first panel is transparent; printing a first ornamentation on the first panel; printing a second ornamentation on a side of the second panel that faces the first panel; and configuring the first panel relative to the second panel so that, when viewed simultaneously by one looking through the transparent first layer into the inflated chamber, the first panel and the second panel cooperate to form a three-dimensional effect.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of welding includes welding the first panel to the second panel around an outer edge of the first panel and an outer edge of the second panel.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of welding includes welding the first panel to the second panel around a center weld portion.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of printing a first ornamentation includes printing the first ornamentation on a side of the first panel that faces the second ornamentation.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising welding at least one columnar member to the first panel and the second panel, the at least one columnar member extending through the inflatable chamber.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising placing loose ornamental material within the at least one columnar member.
 14. The method of claim 8, further comprising placing loose ornamental material within the inflatable chamber.
 15. An inflatable device comprising: a first layer of material and a second layer of material having an inflatable chamber therebetween, at least a portion of the first layer being transparent; a first decorative ornamentation applied to the transparent portion of the first layer; and a second decorative ornamentation applied to the second layer on a side of the second layer that faces the transparent portion of the first layer; wherein said first decorative ornamentation comprises a depiction of at least one foreground image and the second decorative ornamentation comprises a depiction of a background image that is contextually related to said foreground image and spaced apart therefrom across the inflated chamber.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the first decorative ornamentation is applied to the transparent portion of the first layer on a side of the first layer that faces the second decorative ornamentation.
 17. The device of claim 15, further comprising at least one columnar member extending between the first and second layers of material.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one columnar member bears a third decorative ornamentation that shares a common theme with the first and second decorative ornamentation.
 19. The device of claim 15, further comprising loose ornamental material located within the inflatable chamber and sharing a common theme with the decorative ornamentation.
 20. The device of claim 17, further comprising loose ornamental material located within the at least one columnar member and sharing a common theme with the decorative ornamentation. 